Are most DCPS school fields closed to the public?

[Anonymous]

Not a DC gov employee, but have had my the field at my children's former school littered with beer cans and used condoms and don't blame any school for saying FTS and locking the gates. (In fairness, never saw any needles so good job neighbors.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That report explains why some people on this thread think there's plenty of play space and other's don't It varies widely by neighborhood and Mount Pleasant is one of the under-resourced areas.

There was open space near Mount Pleasant at 17th and Piney Branch that served as a workable make-shift soccer field. You'd regularly see mostly Latino men playing pick up games there, and it was a great resource for the community. Until the NPS decided to plant trees throughout the whole space.

The NPS doesn't care if people in nearby neighborhoods have places to play sports. That's not their mandate. They assume that's the domain of DPR and DCPS, which unfortunately don't have much space in many neighborhoods, or regularly keep fields locked.

It makes me think that the people on this thread who think there's plenty of play space work for the city. Folks at DPR insist there's no shortage, even while they're asked to mediate intense battles over fields space; people who complain about not having fields are just "whiny." DCPS insists there's no need to open their space to the public, go to DPR. Meanwhile, look at the numbers, there's an objective shortage of recreational space.

Athletic fields are completely different from playgrounds! Sure there are a shortage of fields for games but not for young kids to play if parents used a bit of imagination. Yes it would be wonderful if DCPS could open up playgrounds for everyone to use but completely unrealistic in this day and age. As others have mentioned upkeep, maintenance, safely issues ... not something DCPS needs to take on board right now! They can't even get education right never-mind this... Athletic fields yes, more collab between DPR and DCPS and community organizations!

And yet, somehow, we magically do it on the Hill.

And in towns, cities and counties all over the country. But it's just not possible in this day and age.

This is why I think the naysayer is a DC government employee. The two mantras of the DC government:
1. The real problem is the whiny residents, not the government's inability to solve problems.
2. Things that work in other places don't work here.

How do people on the Hill keep the playgrounds from getting trashed in time for Monday morning?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That report explains why some people on this thread think there's plenty of play space and other's don't It varies widely by neighborhood and Mount Pleasant is one of the under-resourced areas.

There was open space near Mount Pleasant at 17th and Piney Branch that served as a workable make-shift soccer field. You'd regularly see mostly Latino men playing pick up games there, and it was a great resource for the community. Until the NPS decided to plant trees throughout the whole space.

The NPS doesn't care if people in nearby neighborhoods have places to play sports. That's not their mandate. They assume that's the domain of DPR and DCPS, which unfortunately don't have much space in many neighborhoods, or regularly keep fields locked.

It makes me think that the people on this thread who think there's plenty of play space work for the city. Folks at DPR insist there's no shortage, even while they're asked to mediate intense battles over fields space; people who complain about not having fields are just "whiny." DCPS insists there's no need to open their space to the public, go to DPR. Meanwhile, look at the numbers, there's an objective shortage of recreational space.

Athletic fields are completely different from playgrounds! Sure there are a shortage of fields for games but not for young kids to play if parents used a bit of imagination. Yes it would be wonderful if DCPS could open up playgrounds for everyone to use but completely unrealistic in this day and age. As others have mentioned upkeep, maintenance, safely issues ... not something DCPS needs to take on board right now! They can't even get education right never-mind this... Athletic fields yes, more collab between DPR and DCPS and community organizations!

And yet, somehow, we magically do it on the Hill.

And in towns, cities and counties all over the country. But it's just not possible in this day and age.

This is why I think the naysayer is a DC government employee. The two mantras of the DC government:
1. The real problem is the whiny residents, not the government's inability to solve problems.
2. Things that work in other places don't work here.

How do people on the Hill keep the playgrounds from getting trashed in time for Monday morning?

Unlock it in the morning and lock it up again before dark. It’s not rocket science.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:MT P resident here, I think the bigger problem is that Mt P doesn't have a playground, which is ridiculous given how many kids live in the neighborhood. Maybe closing the bancroft playground will provide more pressure to build a playground at that plot of land on Lamont. #amomcandream

It's not technically in Mt. P, but the playground on 16th by the Catholic Church is probably the same distance if not closer than Bancroft for most of the neighborhood.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That report explains why some people on this thread think there's plenty of play space and other's don't It varies widely by neighborhood and Mount Pleasant is one of the under-resourced areas.

There was open space near Mount Pleasant at 17th and Piney Branch that served as a workable make-shift soccer field. You'd regularly see mostly Latino men playing pick up games there, and it was a great resource for the community. Until the NPS decided to plant trees throughout the whole space.

The NPS doesn't care if people in nearby neighborhoods have places to play sports. That's not their mandate. They assume that's the domain of DPR and DCPS, which unfortunately don't have much space in many neighborhoods, or regularly keep fields locked.

It makes me think that the people on this thread who think there's plenty of play space work for the city. Folks at DPR insist there's no shortage, even while they're asked to mediate intense battles over fields space; people who complain about not having fields are just "whiny." DCPS insists there's no need to open their space to the public, go to DPR. Meanwhile, look at the numbers, there's an objective shortage of recreational space.

Athletic fields are completely different from playgrounds! Sure there are a shortage of fields for games but not for young kids to play if parents used a bit of imagination. Yes it would be wonderful if DCPS could open up playgrounds for everyone to use but completely unrealistic in this day and age. As others have mentioned upkeep, maintenance, safely issues ... not something DCPS needs to take on board right now! They can't even get education right never-mind this... Athletic fields yes, more collab between DPR and DCPS and community organizations!

And yet, somehow, we magically do it on the Hill.

And in towns, cities and counties all over the country. But it's just not possible in this day and age.

This is why I think the naysayer is a DC government employee. The two mantras of the DC government:
1. The real problem is the whiny residents, not the government's inability to solve problems.
2. Things that work in other places don't work here.

How do people on the Hill keep the playgrounds from getting trashed in time for Monday morning?

Unlock it in the morning and lock it up again before dark. It’s not rocket science.

Who monitors who goes it, I always see dog walkers letting their dogs poop everywhere even in the little bit of grass in front of the school? Who cleans up? Who has the rites to the keys one person or a committee?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:MT P resident here, I think the bigger problem is that Mt P doesn't have a playground, which is ridiculous given how many kids live in the neighborhood. Maybe closing the bancroft playground will provide more pressure to build a playground at that plot of land on Lamont. #amomcandream

It's not technically in Mt. P, but the playground on 16th by the Catholic Church is probably the same distance if not closer than Bancroft for most of the neighborhood.

That is a long uphill walk from much of Mt P and also requires crossing 16th street. That is fine when your kids are little and in a stroller but once they are walking on their own, that walk can seem pretty long esp if you are just trying to run them around for 20 minutes or so to blow off some steam.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:MT P resident here, I think the bigger problem is that Mt P doesn't have a playground, which is ridiculous given how many kids live in the neighborhood. Maybe closing the bancroft playground will provide more pressure to build a playground at that plot of land on Lamont. #amomcandream

It's not technically in Mt. P, but the playground on 16th by the Catholic Church is probably the same distance if not closer than Bancroft for most of the neighborhood.

That is a long uphill walk from much of Mt P and also requires crossing 16th street. That is fine when your kids are little and in a stroller but once they are walking on their own, that walk can seem pretty long esp if you are just trying to run them around for 20 minutes or so to blow off some steam.

I think the poster is referring to Powell playground (confusing name since it isn't by the school of the same name) on 16th and Lamont. It is just across the street from Mount Pleasant. Unfortunately the field space is usually locked, although I'm not sure why. And volunteers help clean the playground area, but DPR seems to have abandoned it. There are several social services nearby and unfortunately a lot of loitering, public drinking/drug use, broken glass, etc. I used to think the playground belonged to the church since DPR doesn't address it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:MT P resident here, I think the bigger problem is that Mt P doesn't have a playground, which is ridiculous given how many kids live in the neighborhood. Maybe closing the bancroft playground will provide more pressure to build a playground at that plot of land on Lamont. #amomcandream

It's not technically in Mt. P, but the playground on 16th by the Catholic Church is probably the same distance if not closer than Bancroft for most of the neighborhood.

That is a long uphill walk from much of Mt P and also requires crossing 16th street. That is fine when your kids are little and in a stroller but once they are walking on their own, that walk can seem pretty long esp if you are just trying to run them around for 20 minutes or so to blow off some steam.

I think the poster is referring to Powell playground (confusing name since it isn't by the school of the same name) on 16th and Lamont. It is just across the street from Mount Pleasant. Unfortunately the field space is usually locked, although I'm not sure why. And volunteers help clean the playground area, but DPR seems to have abandoned it. There are several social services nearby and unfortunately a lot of loitering, public drinking/drug use, broken glass, etc. I used to think the playground belonged to the church since DPR doesn't address it.

I guess that's what you get when you have a playground open to the public.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:MT P resident here, I think the bigger problem is that Mt P doesn't have a playground, which is ridiculous given how many kids live in the neighborhood. Maybe closing the bancroft playground will provide more pressure to build a playground at that plot of land on Lamont. #amomcandream

It's not technically in Mt. P, but the playground on 16th by the Catholic Church is probably the same distance if not closer than Bancroft for most of the neighborhood.

That is a long uphill walk from much of Mt P and also requires crossing 16th street. That is fine when your kids are little and in a stroller but once they are walking on their own, that walk can seem pretty long esp if you are just trying to run them around for 20 minutes or so to blow off some steam.

I think the poster is referring to Powell playground (confusing name since it isn't by the school of the same name) on 16th and Lamont. It is just across the street from Mount Pleasant. Unfortunately the field space is usually locked, although I'm not sure why. And volunteers help clean the playground area, but DPR seems to have abandoned it. There are several social services nearby and unfortunately a lot of loitering, public drinking/drug use, broken glass, etc. I used to think the playground belonged to the church since DPR doesn't address it.

I guess that's what you get when you have a playground open to the public.

No. That's what you get when a playground doubles as a location for providing church-based social services. But the field space there is locked. And its a PUBLIC park.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:MT P resident here, I think the bigger problem is that Mt P doesn't have a playground, which is ridiculous given how many kids live in the neighborhood. Maybe closing the bancroft playground will provide more pressure to build a playground at that plot of land on Lamont. #amomcandream

It's not technically in Mt. P, but the playground on 16th by the Catholic Church is probably the same distance if not closer than Bancroft for most of the neighborhood.

That is a long uphill walk from much of Mt P and also requires crossing 16th street. That is fine when your kids are little and in a stroller but once they are walking on their own, that walk can seem pretty long esp if you are just trying to run them around for 20 minutes or so to blow off some steam.

I think the poster is referring to Powell playground (confusing name since it isn't by the school of the same name) on 16th and Lamont. It is just across the street from Mount Pleasant. Unfortunately the field space is usually locked, although I'm not sure why. And volunteers help clean the playground area, but DPR seems to have abandoned it. There are several social services nearby and unfortunately a lot of loitering, public drinking/drug use, broken glass, etc. I used to think the playground belonged to the church since DPR doesn't address it.

I guess that's what you get when you have a playground open to the public.

No. That's what you get when a playground doubles as a location for providing church-based social services. But the field space there is locked. And its a PUBLIC park.

I live around the corner. I have never seen the church provide social services in the park. What services are they providing there? If the field is locked call DPR and find out why. It's not DCPS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That report explains why some people on this thread think there's plenty of play space and other's don't It varies widely by neighborhood and Mount Pleasant is one of the under-resourced areas.

There was open space near Mount Pleasant at 17th and Piney Branch that served as a workable make-shift soccer field. You'd regularly see mostly Latino men playing pick up games there, and it was a great resource for the community. Until the NPS decided to plant trees throughout the whole space.

The NPS doesn't care if people in nearby neighborhoods have places to play sports. That's not their mandate. They assume that's the domain of DPR and DCPS, which unfortunately don't have much space in many neighborhoods, or regularly keep fields locked.

It makes me think that the people on this thread who think there's plenty of play space work for the city. Folks at DPR insist there's no shortage, even while they're asked to mediate intense battles over fields space; people who complain about not having fields are just "whiny." DCPS insists there's no need to open their space to the public, go to DPR. Meanwhile, look at the numbers, there's an objective shortage of recreational space.

Athletic fields are completely different from playgrounds! Sure there are a shortage of fields for games but not for young kids to play if parents used a bit of imagination. Yes it would be wonderful if DCPS could open up playgrounds for everyone to use but completely unrealistic in this day and age. As others have mentioned upkeep, maintenance, safely issues ... not something DCPS needs to take on board right now! They can't even get education right never-mind this... Athletic fields yes, more collab between DPR and DCPS and community organizations!

And yet, somehow, we magically do it on the Hill.

And in towns, cities and counties all over the country. But it's just not possible in this day and age.

This is why I think the naysayer is a DC government employee. The two mantras of the DC government:
1. The real problem is the whiny residents, not the government's inability to solve problems.
2. Things that work in other places don't work here.

How do people on the Hill keep the playgrounds from getting trashed in time for Monday morning?

Unlock it in the morning and lock it up again before dark. It’s not rocket science.

And who cleans up?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not sure why it is so hard for some people to understand that the job of public schools -- while first and foremost is to educate its current students -- is also to be a resource for the broader community.

Throughout my whole adult life, my voting place has been a public school. Community meetings are typically held at the local school. Some public schools house adult education classes in the evenings. Others host youth baseball and soccer leagues. When a disaster strikes, local governments use public schools as staging grounds to provide aid.

When I lived in Columbia Heights, I'd use the Cardozo track in the morning and I'd see a diverse group of people in the neighborhood getting exercise, which was an obvious public health benefit.

Public schools have an obligation to the public. If you don't want the public to use your school, send your kid to a private school.

In other places I've lived this has definitely the case. If you were to tell people that the school that their property taxes paid for could only be used by students, six hours a day, 180 days a year, you'd be laughed out of the room.

But I've also learned that a lot of things that work in other places don't seem to work in DC.

Don't forget before and/or aftercare, schools are used at least 9-10 hours a day.

I think if a meeting were held to discuss this and the administration brought in a garbage can full of the used condoms and broken beer bottles that they collected from the playground when it's left open, then the people suggesting exposing pre-K - 5th grade kids to that mess would be the ones laughed out of the room.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:GTFO with your "but I'm a taxpayer."

Taxpayers cover the costs of Nationals park and cleaning Muriel Bowser's office every night and no expects to just hang out there at any hour of the day.

Nobody is saying they have the right to go into a locked school building in the middle of the night or disturb a school function. We're talking about opening public fields on a Saturday afternoon so kids can simply kick around a soccer ball, just like they do at so many other public schools in the city.

But WHO is going to open the playground? WHO will pay for that person who opens the playground. WHO Is then going to close it 8 hours (or whatever) later? Having had my kid's DCPS preschool teacher be admonished for a lesson on playground maintenance after her kids stepped in poop and wanted to talk about it in class, I was fine w/the playground being closed.

If it helps, think about how you would feel if your child actually attended your neighborhood school and had to share to their outdoor learning/recess/PE/play space with the neighborhood.

[Anonymous]

Payroll and property taxes can't clean up poop - if you think they should, lobby to get DPR and DCPS to hire weekend maintenance staff and offer budget trade-offs. I'm not going to stand up and look for it on behalf of my school community.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not sure why it is so hard for some people to understand that the job of public schools -- while first and foremost is to educate its current students -- is also to be a resource for the broader community.

Throughout my whole adult life, my voting place has been a public school. Community meetings are typically held at the local school. Some public schools house adult education classes in the evenings. Others host youth baseball and soccer leagues. When a disaster strikes, local governments use public schools as staging grounds to provide aid.

When I lived in Columbia Heights, I'd use the Cardozo track in the morning and I'd see a diverse group of people in the neighborhood getting exercise, which was an obvious public health benefit.

Public schools have an obligation to the public. If you don't want the public to use your school, send your kid to a private school.

In other places I've lived this has definitely the case. If you were to tell people that the school that their property taxes paid for could only be used by students, six hours a day, 180 days a year, you'd be laughed out of the room.

But I've also learned that a lot of things that work in other places don't seem to work in DC.

Don't forget before and/or aftercare, schools are used at least 9-10 hours a day.

I think if a meeting were held to discuss this and the administration brought in a garbage can full of the used condoms and broken beer bottles that they collected from the playground when it's left open, then the people suggesting exposing pre-K - 5th grade kids to that mess would be the ones laughed out of the room.

Nope. Our principal gave them evidence. DCPS still decided to open the playground.